Petunia plant named &#39;KLEPH22428

ABSTRACT

A new  Petunia  plant named ‘KLEPH22428’ particularly distinguished by double, dark violet blue flowers, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Petunia hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEPH22428’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Petunia,botanically known as Petunia hybrida and hereinafter referred to by thevariety name ‘KLEPH22428’. ‘KLEPH22428’ is a selection from across-pollination of the commercial female Petunia line ‘Petunia BlueRay’ (patent status unknown) and the proprietary male Petunia line‘PH-2013-3926’ (unpatented).

In July of 2015, the proprietary female Petunia line ‘Petunia Blue Ray’and the male Petunia line ‘PH-2013-3926’ were cross pollinated inLatina, Italy and seeds were obtained. The seeds were sown and plantswere grown for evaluation. A plant line was selected in April 2016 inLatina, Italy and named ‘KLEPH22428’. In May 2016, ‘KLEPH22428’ wasfirst vegetatively propagated by terminal tip cuttings and tissueculture in Latina, Italy. ‘KLEPH22428’ was found to reproduce true totype in successive generations of asexual propagation via tissue cultureand terminal tip cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Latina, Italy.

1. Double, dark violet blue flowers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Petunia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph,which shows a close-up of the flower of the plant. The plant is about 13weeks old, grown indoors in Latina, Italy in March 2017. The colorsshown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventionalphotographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEPH22428’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inLatina, Italy. Data was collected on fourteen-week-old plants grownindoors in Latina, Italy under greenhouse conditions in May 2021. Colorreferences are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal HorticulturalSociety of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Solanaceae.        -   Species.—Petunia hybrida.        -   Common name.—Petunia.        -   Variety.—‘KLEPH22428’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female.—Commercial Petunia line ‘Petunia Blue Ray’.        -   Male.—Proprietary Petunia line ‘PH-2013-3926’.-   Plant:    -   -   Form.—Compact.        -   Habit.—Semi-upright.        -   Height (from top of soil).—13.0 cm.        -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—35.0 cm.        -   Propagation.—Vegetative by terminal tip cuttings and tissue            culture.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—About 14 weeks            in winter under short day conditions, about 8.5 weeks in            spring.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—2 to 3 weeks.        -   Root description.—Moderate density, moderate branching,            white roots.-   Stems:    -   -   Average number (basal).—7.        -   Length of basal branches (from the base of the stem to the            tip).—20.0 cm.        -   Internode length.—0.5 cm.        -   Diameter of branches (from midpoint).—0.35 cm.        -   Stem color.—RHS 144A.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate along the stem and opposite under the            inflorescence.        -   Length.—4.7 cm.        -   Width.—3.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Immature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 138A. Lower surface:            RHS 138B.        -   Mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B. Lower surface:            RHS 137D.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Pubescent. Lower surface: Pubescent.        -   Venation pattern.—Arcuate.        -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B. Lower surface: RHS            144C.        -   Petioles.—Length: 0.6 cm. Diameter: 0.5 cm. Color: RHS 144D.            Texture: Pubescent.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Shape.—Irregularly oblong.        -   Length.—2.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.0 cm.        -   Color at tight bud.—RHS 79A.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Blooming habit (flowering season).—Continuously flowering            during spring and summertime.        -   Inflorescence type.—Sympodial, with monochasial growth.        -   Number of flowers per node.—1.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—About 10            days.        -   Fragrance.—Slight sweet smell.        -   Flowers.—Arrangement: Dense double flower composed of more            than 30 petals. irregularly fused at the base. Diameter            (flower face): 4.5 cm. Depth (total length of flower):            4.0 cm. Throat/Funnel: Not applicable for double flower.            Petals: Color, mature flower (fully opened): Upper surface:            RHS most similar color 86A. Lower surface: RHS 86D. Apex:            Cuspidate. Base: Fused. Shape: Double. Margin: Entire.            Strength of waviness: Not applicable. Degree of lobation:            Not applicable.        -   Calyx arrangement.—Whorl of 5 sepals, fused at the base.            Sepals: Color: Upper surface: RHS 137B. Lower surface: RHS            137B. Length: 1.8 cm. Width: 0.6 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex:            Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Upper            surface: Pubescent. Lower surface: Pubescent.        -   Pedicels.—Color: RHS 144A. Length: 2.2 cm. Diameter: 0.3 cm.            Texture: Pubescent.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: Irregular number of supernumerary stamens            mostly not normally developed and irregularly fused to            petals. Shape: Needle with oblong head. Filament: Length:            0.9 cm. Diameter: 0.02 cm. Color: RHS 155C. Anther: Shape:            Oblong (mostly not normally developed). Color: RHS 91A.            Length: 0.15 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Pollen: Absent. Pistils:            Absent.-   Fruit and seed set: None observed.-   Disease and pest/insect resistance: None observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEPH22428’ is a distinct variety of Petunia. ‘KLEPH22428’ isdistinguished from its parents as described in Table 1 and Table 2:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Female Parental Line Variety Female parentCharacteristic ‘KLEPH22428’ ‘Petunia Blue Ray’ Flower type Double Single

TABLE 2 Comparison with Male Parental Line Variety Male ParentCharacteristic ‘KLEPH22428’ ‘PH-2013-3926’ Flower color Dark violet bluePurple violet

‘KLEPH22428’ is most similar to the commercial Petunia plant named‘KLEPH13235’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,783). Differences between the twovarieties are described in Table 3:

TABLE 3 Comparison with Similar Variety Variety Commercial lineCharacteristic ‘KLEPH22428’ ‘KLEPH13235’ Flower color Violet blue Purpleviolet

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Petunia plant named ‘KLEPH22428’ as illustrated and described herein. 